Surface condenser



Nov. 4, 1930. A. J. NOTT v SURFACE CONDENSER Filed May 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR H. J. NoTT ATTORNEY Nov. 4, 1930.

A. J. NOTT SURFACE CONDENSER Filed May 14, 1929 wimsssss 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 71- 5. INVE OR 4i TT BY ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES ALIBIN J. Norm, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

SURFACE CONDENSER,

Application filed May 14, 1929; Serial No. 363,067.

This invention relates to surface condensers of that type in which tubes extend through a condensing chamber and communicate with water heads located at the opposite ends of the condensing chamber.

In order to compensate for the longitudinal expansion and contraction of the tubes, it is commonly the practice to permanently seal the tubes at one end in-one of the partition walls between the condensing chamber and water head and to provide individual packings or stufling boxes for the tubes in the opposite partition wall or tube sheet. This means, however, has been found to be open to certain objections, notably, the difficulty of gaining access to the stuffing boxes or packings for maintaining a fluid'tightjoint.

The present invention, therefore, broadly comprehends a surfacecondenser in which the tubes are permanently sealed at both ends in the tube sheets and in which one of the tube sheets is axially movable within the drum or body of the condenser to compensate for longitudinal contraction and expansion of the tubes.

The invention further embodies in a surface condenser as previously set forth, a packing interposed between said movable tube sheet and the drum by Virtue of which an effective fluid tight seal is established to positively preclude the cooling medium from entering the condensing chamber.

As a further object, the invention embodies means for maintaining the packing in an effectual moistened condition by the introduction of condensate thereto.

More specifically, the invention aims to provide an improved surface condenser which includes a drum having at one end thereof a fixed tube sheet and a water head covering the same and in which the water tubes are permanently sealed in said tube sheet and a movable tube sheet having a marginal wall or flange which is mounted within the opposite end of the drum for axial movementand into which latter tube sheet the opposite ends of the tubes are permanently sealed together with an enlarged extremity at the latter end of the drum extending be- 5 yond the movable tube sheet with a water head secured to and covering said enlarged extremity of the drum. a Other objects of the invention reside in the comparative simplicity of construction of the condenser, the economy with which it may be produced and maintained in a fluid tight condition and the general efficiency derived therefrom.

With the above recited and other objects in view, reference is had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which there are exhibited several examples or embodiments of the invention, while the claims define the actual scope of the same.

. In-the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a surface condenser constructed in accordancewith the invention.

' Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view therethrough taken approximatelyon the line indicated at 22 in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal sectional view. 1

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3,il-

lustrating a slightly modified adaptation of the invention. 7 I Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view.

through a modified form of the lantern gland employed in the packing. I I

Referring to the drawings by charactersof reference, 10 designates thebody or drum of v thecondenser which is preferably of cylin- I drical formation and which has secured over one end, a fixed or stationary tube sheet 11 and a head 12, which head 12'and tube sheet 11 define a cooling medium or water com partment 13. 1 A movable tube sheet 14 :provided with a marginal-wall or flange lfi is mounted within the opposite end of the body or drum 10 for axial movement, and said body or drum," together with the tube sheets 11 and 14, defines a.condensing chamber 16 into which the steam is introduced through the inletl? and from which the condensate is removed through -an"outlet 18. Tubes 19- 'extend through the'condensing chamber and their opposite ends 20 and 21 are permanently sealed in the respective tube. sheets 11 and 14 in any approved manner, such as by being expanded, belled, -welded opbrazed. The

' which insures apositive exclusion of the-cool movable or floating tube sheet 145' compen sates for contraction and expansion of the 7 tubes 19 which occurs due to fluctuation 1n temperature v In the preferred form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 8,inc1usive, the end of the drum 10 within which the floating tube sheet is arranged is provided with a terminal or extremity 22 of larger diameter than its majorportion, which terminal o'r'extremity has attached to its free end a covering head 23 defining together with said terminal or extremity 22 and tube sheet 14, a Water head-or coolingf'medium compartment 24. In order to seal the outer and inner relatively movableperipheries of;

theflahge or wall15 of the tube sheet: 14' and the drum or body 10 to preventthe passage of fluid from the compartment 24 to the con ,densing chamber lfior-vice Versa, a stuffing box: is employed inwhich are arranged the packing rings'25 which may be compressed by a'gland 26 upon removal of the head 23 to compensate for wear on the'packing' rings.

1 In iorderto properly maintain the packing rings "in-"a moistened condition, a lantern gland 27 is employed which is interposed be tween thepacking rings and which is designed to're'ceive and distribute either pure water'froma water supply or condensate thereto, which water supply or condensate is obviously under a pressureyexceeding the pressure of the circulating'cooling water and whichcondensate is received preferably'from the condensate conduit "28 by means of a branchconduit 29; Y 1

In the modified adaptation of the invention illustratedi-nFigure 4; the marginal-wall or flange 15: of the tubefsheet" 14 extends out I wardlybeyond the end of the drum rbody 6 IO and directlyreceives the covering head 23 1 QThe lantern gland so that thewater head or coolingfiuid comwith which the tubesar'e permanently sealed,

one'of the tube sheets being axially movable within the drum to compensate for longitudinal contraction and expansion of the tubes a packing interposed between the movable tu e sheet and that portion of the drum with which the movable sheet engages and means for introducing'condensate .from the condenser to the packing for maintaining the same in a moist condition.

' 2. A'surface'condenser including a drum,

jtubes extending therethro'ugh, tube sheets withwhich the tubes are permanently'sealed,

one of the tube sheets being axially movable within the drum to compensate for longitudinal contraction and expansion of the tubes, a a

packing interposed between the movabletube sheet and that portion of the: drum with which the movable sheet engagesand means for introducing pure water to the packing for-maintaining the samein a moist condition to render the packing efliective. 3. A surfacecondenser' including a drum,

tubes extending therethrough, tube. sheets with which the tubes are permanently sealed;

oneof said tubesheets being axially movable within the drum to compensate for longi tudinal contraction and expansion of the tubes, apacking interposedlbetween the mov .able tube sheet and that portionof the drum with which the movable tube sheet engages and means forintroducing pure water for condensate under a pressure exceeding the c rculating cooling water of the-condenser to tight conditiong i Y r o a V V Signed at New York, in, the county of New Yorkan-d State of New York this 13th day moisten and maintai the packing in afiuid partmentQL is defined between the tube sheet let coveringhead '23 and flange 15; .jInthis instance; the packing nutae is exteriorly disposed whereby access is .ha'd thereto for the purpose of adjustment or repacking without V V the necessity 'of removing the covering head a V 27 ,may eitherbe pro vided with a' single web" 30, as illustrated in ring medium from" the condensing chamber a withoutthe necessity of resorting tothe use fof individual packing glands or stufiing boxes c 0 for thetubes and the trouble and time involved in maintaining the same in a fluid tight-condition, a

*Whatisclaimedisa/i' n 1. A surface condenser including a V w I drum, '7

tubes extending therethrough, tube sheets iio. 

